Good morning:
I slept at home last evening which I had not been able to do the first night. Woke up and saw that it was light. I was grateful for such a restful evening. Courtenay thought we would sleep better if we "slept in our own beds". I stayed with her the first evening.
Jack came through the biopsy with flying colors. It took 2.5 hours and he was in recovery for 4 hours. He was awake when they returned him to his room. Courtenay and I were there waiting for him. Needless to say, Courtenay broke down when she saw Jack but he was very reassuring and comforting to her by holding her hand and arm and telling her he was OK. Only Jack! He looks a little like Yul Brenner on one side; so much for his good haircuts. The biopsy incision is about 2 inches long on the top right side of his head. The mass is in the right frontal lobe at the top of the brain I spoke with the neurologist and they said they really do not know what it is; it could be an infection; a cyst; a benign or malignant tumor; they just do not know. He said that we will have a preliminary reading within 24-48 hours and an extensive pathology report within 7-10 days.
The nurse came in and asked him where he was; what day it was; who was the Pres of the US and a few more questions; he answered all of them. They asked him to resist them pushing on his arms and legs while they were extended and he was successful at that as well. The left side of his face was more droopy than it has been but that is one of the symptoms of this mass.
Today, he will have CT scan on the rest of his body to determine if he has other masses that may have led to this brain mass. I thought they had done that yesterday but they had the biopsy preempt that test.
We hope that he may come home sometime this evening or weekend while we wait for the test results. He would certainly rest better here.
Thank you for all of your prayers, calls, and emails. The Lord continues to provide in all ways.
love,
carolyn
Friday, August 24, 2007
Jack Update
Hello everyone,
I spent time with Jack this afternoon for about an hour and again this evening with Courtenay. His symptoms are very exacerbated right now due the biopsy of the tumor. The Drs. are now ruling out infection and are really calling the mass a tumor as of this evening. Jack told me that an oncologist came by and left her card and told him we will likely need an appointment with her after the results are in regardless of the condition being benign or malignant. Apparently, that group determines the protocol for treatment (tx). The Drs. also believe the tumor is a primary site not secondary (coming from somewhere else). They did a body CT today but I have not heard the definitive results.
Jack was generally in good spirits. He has extreme difficulty speaking, eating, and drinking. The left side of his face appears very droopy. The Dr. said this was normal. His left hand was swelling this evening. He could not even move his fingers. I told him that it was probably the fluid backing up into his hand from the IV. The nurse came in and said it would be unusual to have it back up in his hand. She called for the Dr. After I got home this evening, I had a call from the neurologist who said that the swollen hand was due to the fluid back up and that was NOT unusual. Jack thinks I could get a job at MGH. I am not sure I am interested - many of you do not know but I was a premed student; met Jack and decided on a different career path - boy am I glad I did; between children and a spouse, I have had and am having all the medicine I need!
The Drs. think Jack is doing very well. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy are part of his routine now. I was there this afternoon when the OT person came in. She said the muscles can get lazy when you stop trying to use them after it becomes so difficult. She asked him a lot of questions. I found out that he had been having so much difficulty with the computer key board, he had stopped using his left hand. I also found it that he had found himself drifting left when driving on the highway to work. I have always said that Jack could die and I would never know why because he does not disclose these things to me. He claimed he didn't want to worry me!!!! These therapies will force him to adapt and retrain these muscles. He could not use his left hand to take off the toothpaste cap this morning. He told me that he found it exhausting to work so hard at such simple tasks.
The OT person said it usually takes 1.5 weeks to return to pre surgery symptoms.
He informed me this afternoon that he had lost his wedding ring in the OR. I said I would go ask the nurse. She said she would look for it that personal items are kept with the patient's notebook. I told Jack that he may have lost his ring but that he wasn't losing me. When the nurse did not arrive, I returned to the nurse's station and they had found it. I went back and told him. His comment was you know how to get jobs done, don't you!
I asked him if he had lost any ability to process info, do his analytical skills; or think about all he ponders. He said no; he just has difficulty with delivery from brain to verbal production. Jack has always been a man of few words which why people listen to him and why he has me (not one of a few words). I told him he has gone to great extremes to not talk this time. Jack just smiles!
Courtenay ask him tonight if he was scared. He said no, no I am not. Thankfully, God's grace is granting him peace. All of this would be so much harder without the confidence we have been given of leaning on our sovereign and gracious Lord.
I want to thank all of you for your calls, emails, prayers, and encouragements. I am not sure when he will come home. The OT person said that they will arrange for OT, PT, and Visiting nurses to be scheduled when he does come home. We are certainly charting new waters. We are thankful we are in such a good place and for all of the people involved with us throughout this journey. May the Lord enable us all to be expectant of His presence.
Jack does request no visitors. His difficulty talking is exhausting to him as well as frustrating. Thank you for your interest in a visit. I will let you know when he is ready to see anyone that may want to see him.
Until,
Carolyn
I spent time with Jack this afternoon for about an hour and again this evening with Courtenay. His symptoms are very exacerbated right now due the biopsy of the tumor. The Drs. are now ruling out infection and are really calling the mass a tumor as of this evening. Jack told me that an oncologist came by and left her card and told him we will likely need an appointment with her after the results are in regardless of the condition being benign or malignant. Apparently, that group determines the protocol for treatment (tx). The Drs. also believe the tumor is a primary site not secondary (coming from somewhere else). They did a body CT today but I have not heard the definitive results.
Jack was generally in good spirits. He has extreme difficulty speaking, eating, and drinking. The left side of his face appears very droopy. The Dr. said this was normal. His left hand was swelling this evening. He could not even move his fingers. I told him that it was probably the fluid backing up into his hand from the IV. The nurse came in and said it would be unusual to have it back up in his hand. She called for the Dr. After I got home this evening, I had a call from the neurologist who said that the swollen hand was due to the fluid back up and that was NOT unusual. Jack thinks I could get a job at MGH. I am not sure I am interested - many of you do not know but I was a premed student; met Jack and decided on a different career path - boy am I glad I did; between children and a spouse, I have had and am having all the medicine I need!
The Drs. think Jack is doing very well. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy are part of his routine now. I was there this afternoon when the OT person came in. She said the muscles can get lazy when you stop trying to use them after it becomes so difficult. She asked him a lot of questions. I found out that he had been having so much difficulty with the computer key board, he had stopped using his left hand. I also found it that he had found himself drifting left when driving on the highway to work. I have always said that Jack could die and I would never know why because he does not disclose these things to me. He claimed he didn't want to worry me!!!! These therapies will force him to adapt and retrain these muscles. He could not use his left hand to take off the toothpaste cap this morning. He told me that he found it exhausting to work so hard at such simple tasks.
The OT person said it usually takes 1.5 weeks to return to pre surgery symptoms.
He informed me this afternoon that he had lost his wedding ring in the OR. I said I would go ask the nurse. She said she would look for it that personal items are kept with the patient's notebook. I told Jack that he may have lost his ring but that he wasn't losing me. When the nurse did not arrive, I returned to the nurse's station and they had found it. I went back and told him. His comment was you know how to get jobs done, don't you!
I asked him if he had lost any ability to process info, do his analytical skills; or think about all he ponders. He said no; he just has difficulty with delivery from brain to verbal production. Jack has always been a man of few words which why people listen to him and why he has me (not one of a few words). I told him he has gone to great extremes to not talk this time. Jack just smiles!
Courtenay ask him tonight if he was scared. He said no, no I am not. Thankfully, God's grace is granting him peace. All of this would be so much harder without the confidence we have been given of leaning on our sovereign and gracious Lord.
I want to thank all of you for your calls, emails, prayers, and encouragements. I am not sure when he will come home. The OT person said that they will arrange for OT, PT, and Visiting nurses to be scheduled when he does come home. We are certainly charting new waters. We are thankful we are in such a good place and for all of the people involved with us throughout this journey. May the Lord enable us all to be expectant of His presence.
Jack does request no visitors. His difficulty talking is exhausting to him as well as frustrating. Thank you for your interest in a visit. I will let you know when he is ready to see anyone that may want to see him.
Until,
Carolyn
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